When people talk about immigration in the European Union, the debate often sounds distant and political. Words such as borders, security or control appear again and again, but the human side is often left out. For this reason, we decided to approach the issue from a different point of view: by listening to people directly connected to it.
Our research began with a visit to the CONVIVE Fundación Cepaim reception center in Guardamar del Segura, in the south of Alicante province. Even before arriving, the journey itself already told us something important. On the bus from Alicante, we could see a mixture of languages, origins and cultures that reflected the diversity of this area. It was a reminder that immigration is not an abstract topic, but part of everyday life.
At the center, we learned that reception is much more than offering a bed or a meal. The staff explained that their job also includes guidance, emotional support, language learning, careers advice and help with administrative procedures. In other words, reception means helping people recover stability and begin again.
The social workers we interviewed, Loubna Hamdai Hamdai and Elhadji Babacar Mbaye Kebe, insisted on one key idea: every migrant story is different. They told us that language and cultural differences are two of the biggest barriers to integration, especially when someone is trying to find work or build a new life. They also warned us about unfair stereotypes. In their opinion, too many people speak about immigration without really understanding it, and this creates simplified and often unjust views.
A young migrant from Mali helped us see the issue from a more personal perspective. He told us that the hardest part of arriving in Spain was the language and adapting to different customs. At the same time, he said that the support of the center, especially the Spanish lessons and educational guidance, had made a real difference. His future goal was simple but powerful: to work, live in peace and be with his family. His words reminded us that migration is not only about movement, but also about hopes, sacrifices and the search for safety.
Another important interview was with a nine-year-old student at our school, originally from Colombia. His story brought the topic closer to our own daily lives, because many of our classmates and friends are immigrants or children of immigrants. He explained that adapting to Spain was difficult because of the cultural change, family problems and financial struggles. He also mentioned Valencian as an unexpected challenge. Even so, he said that family support and feeling welcomed at school were essential in helping him move forward. He also rejected common clichés, especially the idea that immigrants receive everything easily or come to cause problems.
Our interview with José María, a doctor from Panama who has lived in Spain since 2008, showed us a different side of immigration. His case represents skilled migration, with its own challenges and prejudices. He explained that adapting to a new country was hard at first because of paperwork and being far from his family. Over time, however, language, work and social stability helped him feel integrated. He also said that one unfair stereotype is the belief that professionals trained outside Europe are less capable, when this is not necessarily true.
The businessman Matías Lembo offered another valuable perspective. He explained that he moved to Spain with his family in search of security and quality of life, and that he managed to set up a business thanks to previous experience, savings and perseverance. His story is important because it shows that immigration is not only linked to difficulties, but also to making a contribution. His business generates economic activity, jobs and tax revenue, which means that immigration can also be part of local development.
Finally, Professor Juan David Sempere Souvannavong, from the University of Alicante, helped us place all these stories in a broader context. He argued that immigration is often manipulated in public debate and that fear grows when there is ignorance. For him, the solution is not to deny the challenges, but to deal with them through coexistence, education and democratic values. His ideas made us understand that immigration is not a temporary issue, but part of Europe’s present and future.
In the end, this project taught us something simple but important: when people do not know each other, fear grows, and fear easily turns into prejudice. That is why the best answer is not rejection, but intercultural coexistence based on respect. If Europe wants to remain faithful to its own values — dignity, freedom, equality, democracy and human rights — it must build a future in which diversity is not seen as a threat, but as part of a shared life.
Editor: Miriam Gómez Gilabert
Deputy editor: Adriana López González
Documentation: David Muñoz Kachalov and Pedro Abarca Sanz
Image: Naia Rios Fidalgo and Ana Baena Pizarro
Video editing: Irene Ortega López and Andrea Jiménez More
